klisemfg Chapter 497 The Emperor's heart is alarmed by the urgent report from the Shadow Sect; a midnigh
Chapter 497 The Emperor's heart is alarmed by the urgent report from the Shadow Sect; a midnigh
Tianqi City, 3:45 AM.
The side hall of Zichen Palace was still brightly lit. Xiao Ruojin, wearing a bright yellow nightgown, sat behind the imperial desk, his vermilion brush hovering in mid-air, not falling for a long time.
The memorial spread out on the table was a newly submitted impeachment memorial from the Censorate, pointing directly at Langya Prince Xiao Ruofeng for "holding up military power and delaying military operations." It was thousands of words long and every word was venomous.
As Xiao Ruojin looked at the words, a cold smile appeared on her lips.
These censors are certainly well-informed. No sooner had news of defeats in the southwestern war arrived than impeachment memorials began pouring in like snowflakes.
Just as he was about to pick up his pen to review the document, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall.
"Your Majesty!" Jin Xuan's voice rang out from outside the door, tinged with rare panic, "The Shadow Sect Master, Yi Bu, has an urgent military report!"
Xiao Ruojin frowned: "Summon them!"
The palace doors opened, and Yi Bu strode in, his gray robe damp with night dew, clearly having rushed from outside the palace.
His face was solemn, his eyes were bloodshot, and he knelt on one knee upon seeing Xiao Ruojin:
"Your Majesty, I, your humble servant Yi Bu, have come to pay my respects! There is urgent military news, and I must disturb Your Majesty's presence late at night. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!"
"General Yi, please rise. Now that you have military intelligence to report, just tell me!" Xiao Ruojin put down her vermilion brush.
Yi Bu took out a secret report from his bosom and presented it with both hands: "The Shadow Sect disciple Song Chen and others have sent back an urgent report from the southwest front—the Langya King's army was surrounded by Baili Luochen's 50,000 Pofeng Army outside Juzhou City. After a fierce battle for half a day, 30,000 troops... less than one-tenth survived!"
"What?!" Xiao Ruojin suddenly stood up, knocking over the teacups on the imperial desk, unaware that the scalding tea had splashed all over her.
He snatched the secret report and quickly scanned it.
The more she looked, the paler her face became.
The secret report detailed the course of the Battle of Juzhou—how Xiao Ruofeng divided his forces to harass the Zhenfeng silver mine, how he launched a night attack on the south gate of Juzhou, and how he was surrounded by Baili Luochen's main force at dawn...
The last sentence, "The Prince of Langya led his remaining troops of more than 4,000 men to break through the encirclement and return north, and the Pofeng Army did not pursue them," pierced Xiao Ruojin's eyes like a needle.
"No pursuit?" He looked up at Yi Bu, his voice icy. "Baili Luochen surrounded the commander of my 200,000-strong army, yet let him escape? General Yi, do you think... this is reasonable?"
Yi Bu knelt on the ground, his voice hoarse: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty also finds this strange! Normally, capturing and killing the enemy commander-in-chief is an extraordinary feat, and Baili Luochen would never let him go. Unless..."
"Unless what?"
“Unless…” Yi Bu raised his head, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes, “there is another tacit understanding between the King of Langya and Baili Luochen.”
These words were spoken softly, yet they resounded like thunder in the silent hall.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Ruojin's pupils contracted sharply. He slowly sat back on the imperial chair, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrests, his eyes flickering uncertainly.
Yes, that's very strange!
Two hundred thousand troops went to war, but seven or eight out of ten were lost. Yet the commander-in-chief was able to escape unscathed from the enemy's encirclement, and the enemy did not even pursue him...
This can no longer be explained by "luck".
Unless, Baili Luochen had no intention of killing Xiao Ruofeng at all.
why?
Because of past affections? Because Xiao Ruofeng is the Prince of Langya, and killing him would provoke the entire Northern Li Kingdom to fight to the death?
No, that's not right.
Given Baili Luochen's personality, having already rebelled, he wouldn't care about such things. Killing a prince or killing an emperor would make no difference to him.
Then why let Xiao Ruofeng go?
Countless possibilities flashed through Xiao Ruojin's mind—did Xiao Ruofeng have a secret agreement with Baili Luochen? Had the two reached some kind of deal?
Or... did Xiao Ruofeng deliberately suffer defeat to deplete the imperial army and pave the way for his future plans?
Once the thought arose, it grew wildly like a poison ivy.
He remembered many things.
Recalling Xiao Ruofeng's immense prestige in the court, the soldiers' love and respect for the Prince of Langya, and how the late emperor had repeatedly praised his younger brother for his literary and martial talents and his ability to shoulder great responsibilities...
Although Xiao Ruofeng eventually relinquished the throne to him, the seed of suspicion had already been planted deep in his heart.
Now, Xiao Ruofeng holds military power over the entire country, yet he suffered a crushing defeat against Baili Luochen, and returned unscathed...
Is this really just a crime committed during war?
Or... was it intentional?
“General Yi,” Xiao Ruojin spoke slowly, her voice regaining its imperial calm, yet sending a chill down one’s spine, “Is there any further news regarding the Shadow Sect’s disciples planted in the army?”
Yi Bu's heart skipped a beat, knowing that the emperor had become suspicious, and he hurriedly said, "According to Song Chen and others' secret report, the Prince of Langya is doing as usual in the army, sharing weal and woe with his soldiers, and has not shown any unusual behavior. However..."
"Just what?"
"After the defeat, the Prince of Langya had a conversation with Baili Luochen on the battlefield, but the specific content is unknown. Afterwards, Baili Luochen ordered the road to be cleared so that the Prince of Langya could return north."
Ib paused, then lowered his voice, "In addition, General Ye Xiaoying encountered the drug-using people at Ironthorn Ridge, and the three thousand Double-Blade Battalion were almost completely wiped out. This matter... is also related to the decision of the Prince of Langya to divide his troops."
A cold glint flashed in Xiao Ruojin's eyes.
Decision to divide forces... Medicine man...
He suddenly remembered that before the battle, Xiao Ruofeng had strongly advocated dividing the troops into three routes. Although he felt it was risky at the time, he approved it because of the complex terrain in the southwest.
In retrospect, this move to divide the troops was tantamount to sending Ye Xiaoying's forces into the tiger's den!
Ye Xiaoying was Xiao Ruofeng's trusted and beloved general, but he was also a well-known and fierce general in the army, with a high reputation.
Logically speaking, Xiao Ruofeng wouldn't have let his trusted general fall into such a desperate situation for nothing. Xiao Ruojin's head ached from thinking so much. He couldn't understand how the war to suppress the rebels in the southwest had come to this...
"General Yi," Xiao Ruojin said after a long silence, "you must immediately order the Shadow Sect to send more men to keep a close watch on the Prince of Langya's journey back to the capital. I need to know his every move, every person he comes into contact with, and every word he says."
"Yes!"
“Also,” Xiao Ruojin paused, a ruthless glint in her eyes, “keep a close eye on Ye Xiaoying. If he has frequent contact with the Prince of Langya after returning to the capital, report back immediately.”
Yi Bu's heart skipped a beat, realizing that the emperor had even begun to suspect Ye Xiaoying. He quickly bowed and said, "Your subject obeys the decree!"
"Go ahead," Xiao Ruojin waved her hand.
After Ibn withdrew, the hall fell silent once more.
Xiao Ruojin sat alone behind the imperial desk, gazing at the flickering candlelight, remaining motionless for a long time.
The night wind blew into the hall, the candlelight flickered, casting his shadow on the wall, long and distorted.
"My brother, my brother..." he murmured to himself, his voice so low that only he could hear it, "If you truly had no ulterior motives, why did you suffer such a strange defeat? If you truly had ulterior motives..."
He didn't continue speaking, but slowly clenched his fist until his knuckles turned white.
The sound of the night watchman's call at the third watch came from outside the palace, exceptionally clear in the quiet night.
An hour had passed since Yi Bu left, and Xiao Ruojin was still sitting in her chair, wearing the dragon robe that was soaked with tea.
All he knows is that now, sitting in this position, what he sees and thinks is different from before.
This dragon throne is so cold, so cold that one has to be wary of everyone—including his once closest brother.
"Someone come here!" he suddenly called out.
Jinxuan appeared silently in the hall: "Your Majesty."
"Draft an imperial edict," Xiao Ruojin said slowly. "Prince Xiao Ruofeng of Langya suffered a defeat in suppressing the rebellion in the southwest, losing many soldiers and generals, and has failed to live up to my expectations. He is hereby ordered to return his military seal and insignia immediately upon returning to the capital and to reflect on his mistakes in seclusion. All military affairs shall be temporarily taken over by the Ministry of War!"
Jin Xuan was taken aback: "Your Majesty, isn't this... a bit too harsh? After all, the Prince of Langya is..."
"Draft an imperial edict!" Xiao Ruojin's voice turned cold.
"Yes!" Jinxuan dared not say anything more and quickly laid out paper and ground ink.
As Xiao Ruojin gazed at the deep night outside the palace, the last trace of warmth in her eyes finally froze completely.
On the path to imperial power, there is no room for leniency. Such a crushing defeat at this critical juncture meant that even his own brother, Xiao Ruojin, could no longer show favoritism towards Xiao Ruofeng.
After all, with so many people in the court talking, someone has to shut them up.
……